Remember this when things don't go your way...

Many people feel that if they're unsuccessful at something, they've failed -- not just themselves, but others as well. They take a defeatist attitude, convincing themselves that they're losers.

They second-guess their decisions.

They beat themselves up over not trying hard enough.

They tell themselves that if only they had said this or done that, they might have prevailed.

I'm here to tell you this:

You don't lose. You either win, or you learn.

For example, maybe you didn't get the job, but you realize you can polish your resume a bit and work on improving your interviewing skills.

Perhaps you made a couple of uncouth remarks on your blind date that are likely to blame for the fact you never heard from the person again. This shows you that thinking before you speak might be something to shoot for.

Or, maybe you failed an exam you assumed you could pass by cramming for a few hours the night before, demonstrating how important it is to be prepared on test day.

As you can see, we should aim to reframe what we call "failures" as learning experiences. As long as you learn from your mistakes so that history doesn't repeat itself, guess what? You're helping to facilitate growth. You're becoming a better person than you used to be.

It's important we not let our egos get in the way of our progress. Sometimes it can be difficult for us to acknowledge our mistakes and accept that we need to change certain things about ourselves in order to achieve more favorable outcomes -- whether in business, love, or life in general.

You're not a loser. You're human -- as we all are. We would never grow if we were all infallible. Only by falling do we learn how to pick ourselves up and become better people.

Above all, remain positive! Practice self-compassion. Learn to forgive and never stop believing in yourself. Things may not have gone exactly as planned, but as long as you work hard, remain patient, and stick to your goals, you can make your dreams a reality.

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